Electrode bar straightener



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 zy/M125, f

J. W. TOMKA ETAL ELECTRODE BAR STRAIGHTENER Aug. 28, 1962 Filed Nov. 1o, 1958 Aug. 28, 1962 J. w. TOMKA ETAL 3,051,216

ELECTRODE BAR STRAIGHTENER I Filed Nov. lO, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 28, 1962 J. TOMKA ET Al.

ELECTRODE BAR STRAIGHTENER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. l0, 1958 United States Patent @nice 3 ,d5 l ,Z l d Patented Aug.. A28, 1 962 This invention relates to apparatus and method forl straightening T-shaped bars.

Though the arrangement of the present invention may be utilized for straightening any T-shaped bar, it is primarily intended to be' used for straightening the anode Ibars in an aluminum processing plant. Generally, in producing commercially pure aluminum, a charge of rened ore is placed in a carbon pot. Then a carbon block is lowered into the pot and an electrical current is passed through the block, which acts as the anode, and the pot, which acts as the cathode, whereupon the aluminum is melted out of the ore and siphoned oi.

The carbon blocks are carried singly or in pairs by T-shaped anode bars which are transported through the various operating stations by a conventional overhead conveyor system. While moving through the various steps of the processing line, the anode bars are frequently bent an the T portions thereof are angled and twisted. For elicient operation, each anode bar must be straightened prior to the beglnning of each cycle. Removing the bars from the processing line for straightening has proved to be extremely ineiiicient. On the other hand, no satisfactory means for straightening the anode bars without removing them from the conveyor system had been devised prior to the present invention.

The primary object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for straightening both the elongated portion and the T portion of the anode bars in an eiective, etiicient manner Without removing the bars from the conveyor system. 'Ihe object is accomplished, broadly, by press actuated die means arranged to exert pressure around the entire periphery of the elongated portion of Ithe bar and by composite means engageable with opposite sides of the T portion of the bar while the die pressure is maintained on the elongated portion.

Other objects and advantages will be `apparent from the following description `and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the bar straightening arrangement, certain portions of the arrangement being removed for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View, with portions shown in section of the embodiment of FIGURE l; i

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIGURE 1 and showing the straightening die construction;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the traverse pivot carriage;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the device illustrating the stop gate assembly, and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic valve sys-tem for the arrangement. v

Referring irst to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, the anode bar 10 is shown being received in a straightener press shown generally at 12. The Ibar 10 (FIGURE l) comprises an elongated body portion 14, which is, in most instances, rectangular in cross-section, and a T portion 16 having its ends turned down to support stubs 18, which during the relining process, carry carbon block electrodes (not shown).

l The anode bars are suspended from and transported along a conventional overhead conveyor system of which only the conveyor rail 20 is illustrated. A bracket 22, to which the anode bars are secured, is supported by spaced rollers 24 arranged to ride on the lower ilange of the conveyor rail 20 as best seen in FlGURE l. A conventional drive conveyor rail 26 supports a drive carriage 27 for engagement with a drive bar 28 secure to the bracket 22.

The press 12 comprises spaced columns 30 and upper and lower spacer members 32 and 34, respectively, which are secured to. the 'columns by means of tie studs 36 in a conventional manner. One of the columns 3G supports a die block 38 to which is secured a stationary die indicated generally at d. Secured to the other column by means of tie studs 44 is a xed yoke 42 which in turn carries a fixed piston rod 46 (FIGURES 1 and 6). The xed piston rod 46 carries a lmovable cylinder 48 to which is secured a moving die 50.

The dies 4? and Si?, as best seen in FIGURES l and 3, are V-shaped as shown at 52 to correspond to the contour of the anode bar which is thereby straightened. Because of the fact that the anode bars may be bent in any transverse direction, the V-shaped portions 52 are rotated, as hereinafter described, to directly face each other on opposite sides of the line of travel of the anode bars and are elongated as at v5.3 to provide a gathering action on the anode bars as the dies are closed. In order to properly straighten the bar, the die faces 5S must contact the bar along their entire length and, in order tog-facilitate complete closing of the dies, the elongated portions 53 are relieved, in accordance with the invention, as at 54 (FIGURES 1 and 3). The relieved portions 54 of each diel must be staggered relative to the relieved portion of the opposite die, so that the elongated portions 53 interleaf when the dies are closed. rrIhis structure is most clearly illustrated in FIGURE l.

The press 12 also comprises vertical cylinders 56 diagonally spaced from each other,V as best seen in F'iGi URE 2.v Each vertical cylinderV 56 is Vprovided with a cylinder rod 5S (FIGURE l and 3) which is received through an opening 66 (FIGURE 3) in the related die 40 or 50. A threaded portion 62 (FIGURE l) of the rod 5S is arranged to receive an adjusting collar 64 which is engageable with a fixed stop 66, whereby the travel of the cylinderrod may be accurately controlled. The purpose of the vertical cylinders 56 androds 58 is to `straighten the T portion of the anode bars, as will be -explained in greater detail hereinafter. y

' Referring fora moment to the anode bars,fit is to be noted that the total weight thereof when Vreaching the straightening press may range from 20G to 900 pounds, depending on how much or how little of the carbon block had been burned away While separating the aluminum from the rened ore. For this reason, when the bars are carried into position by the overhead conveyor system, they have a high-energy pendulum swing which must be quickly stopped in the pressing area ofthe dies. Tol

accomplish this function, a stop bar arrangement is provided which is indicated generally at 70 (FIGURES 2 and 5). i I

The stop bar or gate assembly is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 5 and comprises a swinging gate 72 pivotable as at 74 on a horizontal axis to a support bracket 76 which is secured to the 'press `frame. The gate 72 is preferably provided with a replaceable non-metallic facing 73V (FIG- URE 2) primarily to prevent damage to the anode bar body. Formed integrally with the gate but extending therebelow, as best seen in FIGURE 5, is a pivot arm pivotally secured to a clevis 81. The clevis 81 is secured to and movable vnth a piston rod 82 reciprocal in a hydraulic cylinder 84 which is supported at its remote end by a pivot pin 86 received through a bracket 88 which in turn is welded to the press column. An abut-V ment 90is rigidly secured to the opposite press column to absorb the shock loads imposed on the gate by the anode i bar and thereby 'prevent damage to the gate and actuating cylinder."v Y Y Y i The anode bar, 'being rectangular, as best shown' in FIGURE 3, and being advanced with its T portion parallel with the conveyor rail 20, must be rotated throughV a 45 degree angle in order to be properly gripped by the straightener dies.; Furthermore, it is apparent fromthis figure that, `because only one of the straightener dies is movable, provision must be madefor moving the anode bar laterally outY of itslineV of travel to a positionV adjacent the stationary die 40. The mechanism for accomplish-y ing both of these functions Yis best illustrated in'FIG- URI-3SV 2 and 4. Referring particularly toFlGURE 4, it isV seen thatV the conveyor rail is provided with a section '100 which is movable laterally relative. to the rail 20. Secured to the movable section 100 for movement therewith is a traverse carriage 102 having secured thereto a plurality of studs 104 arranged to rotatably mount carriage rollers 106. The rollers on Yone side of the carriage may be made at, and may be carried by a conveyor track 110.1but the rollers on the opposite side of the carriage are preferably formed with a V-shaped rolling surface-108, said V-shaped surface being guidably movable on a V-shaped portion of a conveyor track 11011. The roller tracks 110 and 110a are welded or otherwise Y Y securedV to the press columns and finnish the entire support for the carriage assembly and the movable conveyor section. Y

YInternally of the carriage 102, there is provided a carriage bracket 112 having V a hub 114 located centrally thereof. The hub is provided with'a bushed opening 1716 toV pivotally receive a support stud 118. A bearing washer 120, surrounding the stud 118, is positioned between the top of the hub 114 and a collar V119 which is secured VVVto Vthe stud 118. Extending outwardly of the collar 119 is a pivot rod 122.` Welded or otherwise secured to the lower Vend of the support stud 118 is a pivotal conveyor section 124 Vwhich is free to pivot in one direction and preventedV from swinging in the oppositedirection by virtue of the` angle 51 at which the conveyor section 124 meets the conveyor section 100 and additionally if desired, by a stop lug126. It will lbe apparent, then, that if an anode baris being supported in the pressing station Y generally centrally of the conveyorrsection 124, rotationY 'ofV the pivotal ksection y124V will simultaneously rotate'the anode bar assembly. The power for pivoting the assembly is provided by a hydraulic cylinder 132 which is Y pivotally mounted as at'134 to the traverse carriage V102' Y and which is Yprovidedr with a cylinder rod pivoted as at Y 128 Vtothe pivot rod 122.V A suitable stop (not shown) may be provided so thatrthe conveyor section and anode bar will be rotated throughY an angle of 45 degrees. YVAs shown in k1andj2, a traverse cylinder 136 is connected to the press column by means of a support rod 138. The cylinder is provided with a cylinder rod 140 which is connected to the traverse carriage by Vmeans ofv a pinl42. Actuation of the cylinder 136 mov Vpresumed that-the motorand pump are When a conveyor :bracket and` its Yanode bar are moved into straightening position by the drive carriageA 27, limit switch LSlristripped to energize Ya solenoid 156. Energi'zation' of this solenoid shifts the valve157 to the i Vposition illustrated -in FIGURE 6 whereby pressure uid is Aforced from port 158 ofthe pump 150 through the line 1.62 and to the advance chamber-of the cylinder 132 to move the rod of cylinder 132 forwardly to -rotate the support stud 118 and with it the conveyor section 124 and the anode bar 10. When the bar has-beenrrotated through degrees, a limit switch LS2 is tripped to energize solenoid 168. Energizing solenoid 16S-shifts a solenoid operated valve 169 to the position shown in FIG- UREY 6, whereby pressure uid is directed through port 170 to the advance chambers of traverse cylinder 136 and the main ram cylinder 48. The cylinder -136 moves the anode bar into position against the stationary die and, simultaneously, theram cylinder 48 advances the movable die to a position whereat the movable die is exerting fullV pressure against the anode bar. VIt is to be noted that the anode bar at this point in the aluminum processing cycle is dead soft and therefore no problem of spring-back of the bar after straightening is involved.

When the movable die cylinder has reached its full straightening position, a limit switch LS3 is tripped to energize a solenoid 176 causing valve 177 to-be shifted to the position shown inFIGURE 6 whereby pressure diuid is directed to the ladvance chambers of vertical cylinders 56 to move the vertical cylinder rods 58 downwardly against the fixed stops 66 to straighten the T portion of the anode bar. The vertical cylinder rods 58, upon reachingthe end of their respective strokes, trip limit switches L84 and LSS to deenergize solenoid 176 to shift the valve 177, whereby pressure uid is directed to the return chamber of cylinders 56 to move the vertical cylinder rods 56 upwardly. Whenthe rods 5S reach the top of their respectiveY strokes, limit switches L86 and LS.7 -are tripped to deenergizesolenoid 168. Deenergization of solenoid 163 shifts valve 169 to return the straightener die cylinder 48 and traverse cylinder rod 140 to their starting positions. When the straightenerY die cylinder 48 reaches its return position, a limit switch L83 is tripped to deenergize solenoid 156, whereby the valve 157 is shifted to return the rod of cylinder 132, whereby the anode bar is rotated through a 45 degree angle tothe position it occupied upon entering the straightening area. Upon reaching the ends kof-itsjreturn stroke, the rod of cylinder 132 trips a limit switch LS9 to energize a solenoid 186, whereupon an. associated valve 187 is shifted to the position shown in FIGURE 6, whereby the gate cylinder 84 is actuatedY to raise the gate 72. Complete opening of the gate 72'is signaled by lthe tripping of limit switch LS10, whereby the anode barL is moved out of the straightening. area of the press. Having cleared'the gate 72,'the anode bar trips a switch LS11to deenergize solenoid 186,'whereupon the gate is lowered preparatory to the next successive cycle of operation.

VVWe claim:

l. A'device yforstraighteninga T-shaped bar having a body of substantially rectangular'cross-section and a base portion substantially at right angles thereto, said device comprising: means Yfor delivering said bar ina rst position along a given path to -a Vstraiglrltenirrg station; a stationary-clamping die; means for rotating said bar through anV angle of approximately 45 rfor orienting said Y bar Irelative to'sai'd clamping die; means for moving said Y bar out of said path to-a point adjacent said stationary diebefore VVAthe Vbar is straightened; saidY moving means functioning to return |the Vbar to said path'rafter the bar is straightened; a movable `die for clamping said body against thestationa'ry die; Vdual straightening means for exerting pressure on saidbase portion on opposite sides of said body while said movable die is held in clamping position; means for automatically actuating said rotating means to rotate the straightened bar to said `first position; and means for removing the Vstraightened bar from said station. i l

2. A' device for straightening T-shapcd bars having a body of generally .rectangular section and a base portion substantially at right angles thereto, said device comprising: conveyor means for delivering said bar to a press station; clamping means engageable with said body to straighten the latter, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders, said cylinders having rods engageable with said base portion on opposite sides of said body for straightening said base portion while said clamping means are engaged with said body.

3. In a device for conveying and straightening a generally rectangular elongated bar, the combination of; a conveyor dening a path of movement for said bar; a stationary die land a movable clamping die; means to actuate said movable die tto straighten said bar; means to rotate said bar from a first to a second position and to move said bar out of said path to a point adjacent said stationary die prior to straightening, and 'to return said bar to said path and rotate said bar from the second to the first position after straightening; said means comprising a fixed track, a carriage carried by said track and movable 'thereon laterally of said conveyor; means for imparting said lateral movement to said carriage, a sepafable conveyor section secured to said carriage for movement therewith, another separable conveyor section supported by said carriage for lateral movement therewith and `for pivotal movement relative thereto about a vertical axis, 'and means carried by said carriage for pivoting vsaid other conveyor section,

another separable conveyor portion carried by said ca r-` riage for movement therewith, said other portion being selectively pivotable from a iirst position substantially aligned with said conveyor and said portion to a second position angularly related to said rst position.

5. A method for straightening a T-shaped bar having a body of substantially rectangular cross-section and a ibase portion substantially at right angles thereto, including the steps of: moving the bar from a ixed conveyor rail to a pivotable and laterally movable conveyor section, then pivoting said section through -an angle of approximately degrees, then moving said section laterally toward a stationary die, then clamping the body between said stationary die and a movable die, and then, while holding said body clamped, exerting straightening pressure on said -base portion.

6. In a Vdevice for conveying and straightening a bar having a head, the combination of: relatively movable jaw means for clamping 'the bar above said head; means for moving the bar to a position between said jaws; means responsive to movement of said bar to said position for automatically rotating the bar on its longitudinal axis to a position whereat corners of said bar are aligned with complementary corners of the jaws; means responsive to movement of said bar to the last-mentioned position for automatically actuating the jaws to clamp the bar; and means responsive to clamping of the bar by said jaws for automatically forcing the head to perpendicular relationship with respect to the bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10,571 Gray Feb. 28, 1854 711,631 Irvin Oct. 21, 1902 1,158,703 McLaughlin et al. Nov. 2, 1915 1,792,224 Johnson Feb. l0, 1931 2,341,602 Dewey Feb. 15, 1944 2,830,462 Vettese Apr. 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,423 Switzerland Oct. 2, 1918 87,141 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1920 

